Division Sharing and Grouping

Division is a way of sharing objects equally or making equal groups. When we divide, we can find how many objects are in each group or how many equal groups can be made. In this lesson, you will learn the difference between sharing and grouping in division, solve simple division problems, and practise using pictures and equal groups.

Equal Sharing:

Example:

1. Share eight strawberries between four children.

Let us distribute strawberries equally to all the four children one by one.

After distributing equally among four children, four strawberries were left. They can be further distributed among four children.

Now, there are no more strawberries left in the box. Each child got 2 strawberries. So, division is an operation of repeated subtracted of the same number.

8 – 4 = 4

4 – 4 = 0

Here, we have subtracted 4 repeatedly 2 times until we reached 0.

Hence, 8 strawberries ÷ 4 children = 2 strawberries for each child.

We can also say that 8 strawberries have been divided into 4 equal groups of 2.

So, 8 ÷ 4 = 2. This is called a division fact.

Division means sharing equally or making equal groups.

Equal Grouping:

Examples:

1. Nitheeya has 27 flowers. She wants to make garlands of 9 flowers each. How many garlands can she make?

Solution:

She first puts 9 flowers in 1 garland.

She makes another garland of 9 flowers.

She makes 1 more garland of 9 flowers.

Thus, Ntheeya can make 3 garlands of 9 flowers each.

2. Divide 15 flowers into 3 equal groups. How many flowers does each group contain?

Solution:

Each group contains 5 flowers.

We write 15 ÷ 3 = 5 and read as 15 divided by 3 is equal to 5.

15 ÷ 3 = 5 is a division fact.

÷ is the symbol of division.

From the above examples, we can say that division means dividing or separating into equal groups.

Sharing vs Grouping:

Sharing vs Grouping in Division

Division can be understood in two simple ways: sharing and grouping. Both use equal groups, but they help us find different things in a division problem.

Comparison of Sharing and Grouping in Division

Division Model	What We Know	What We Find
Sharing	Number of groups	Number in each group
Grouping	Number in each group	Number of groups

Sharing

Example: 12 apples are shared equally among 3 children.

We know there are 3 groups and find how many apples are in each group.

12 ÷ 3 = 4

Each child gets 4 apples.

Grouping

Example: 12 apples are put into groups of 3.

We know there are 3 apples in each group and find how many groups can be made.

12 ÷ 3 = 4

We can make 4 equal groups.

Remember: Sharing finds how many are in each group, while grouping finds how many groups can be made.

Division Vocabulary:

• Dividend – the number being divided.
• Divisor – the number we divide by.
• Quotient – the answer to a division problem.

For Example:

                    24 ÷ 6 = 4

                        24 = Dividend
                          6 = Divisor
                          4 = Quotient

Play Division Sharing and Grouping Game:

Printable Division Sharing and Grouping Worksheet:

Use this free printable division sharing and grouping worksheet to practice equal sharing, equal grouping, division facts, repeated subtraction, and picture-based division problems.

Questions and Answers on Division Sharing and Grouping:

I. Divide the following:

(i) Put flowers in vases equally and write the division sentence.

(ii) Put fishes equally in the tanks and write the division sentence.

Answer:

I. (i) 4 ÷ 4 = 1

(ii) 9 ÷ 3 = 3

II. Make groups of 2 and complete the division fact.

………… bananas have been divided into ………… groups.

                             ………… ÷ ………… = …………

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………… flowers have been divided into ………… groups.

                             ………… ÷ ………… = …………

………… balloons have been divided into ………… groups.

                             ………… ÷ ………… = …………

Answer

II. (i) 8 bananas have been divided into 2 groups.

                             8 ÷ 2 = 4

(ii) 12 flowers have been divided into 2 groups.

                             12 ÷ 2 = 6

(iii) 6 balloons have been divided into 2 groups.

                             6 ÷ 2 = 3

III. Divide and complete the division fact.

(i) Distribute 12 candies equally among 4 kids.

Each kid has ……….. candies.

So, 12 ÷ 4 = …………

(ii) Distribute 18 oranges equally among 3 boxes.

Each box has ……….. oranges.

So, 18÷3 = …………

(iii) Distribute 20 pencils in 4 pencil stands.

Each pencil stand has ……….. pencils.

So, 20÷ 4 = …………

Answer:

III. (i) 3

(ii) 6

(iii) 5

IV. Divide by repeated subtraction:

(i) 40 ÷ 5

(ii) 64 ÷ 8

(iii) 42 ÷ 7

(iv) 54 ÷ 9

Answer:

IV. (i) 8

(ii) 8

(iii) 6

(iv) 6

V. Look at the picture and fill in the blanks.

(i) 3 girls share 15 dolls equally.

(ii) 12 boys are put into 2 equal teams.

(iii) 24 fishes are put equally into 3 fish tanks.

(iv) 12 flowers are put equally into 3 vases.

Answer:

V. (i) 5, 15 ÷ 3 = 5

(ii) 6, 12 ÷ 2 = 6

(iii) 8, 24 ÷ 3 = 8

(iv) 4, 12 ÷ 3 = 4

VI. Divide 12 bananas into 3 equal groups. Circle the groups.

Answer:

VI. 4, 0, 3

VII. Divide 8 pineapples into 2 equal groups. Circle the groups.

Answer:

VII. 4, 0, 2

VIII. Divide 9 pearls into 3 equal groups. Circle the groups.

Answer:

VIII. 3, 0, 3

IX. Divide 16 apples into 4 equal groups. Circle the groups.

Answer:

IX. 4, 0, 4

X. Compare the two groups in each set. Tick the equal groups and cross the ones that are not equal.

Answer:

X. (i) ✗, ✓

(ii) ✗, ✗

(iii) ✗, ✓

XI. Make groups of 3 objects and complete the division sentence.

Answer:

XI.

(i) 9 candies have been divided into 3 groups

                   9 ÷ 3 = 3

(ii) 12 crayons have been divided into 3 groups

                         12 ÷ 3 = 4

(iii) 6 cupcakes have been divided into 3 groups

                         6 ÷ 3 = 2

XII. Make groups of 4 objects and complete the division sentence.

Answer:

XII. (i) 12 flowers divided into 3 groups.

(ii) 20 pencils divided into 5 groups.

(iii) 16 apples divided into 4 groups.

XIII. Draw and divide 25 fishes in 5 fish tanks.

Answer:

XIII. 25 ÷ 5 = 5

XIV. Draw and divide 15 pencils in 3 pencil holders.

Answer:

XIV. 15 ÷ 3 = 5

XV. Draw and divide 12 apples in 4 plates.

Answer:

XV. 12 ÷ 4 = 3

XVI. Draw and divide 30 flowers in 5 flower pots.

Answer:

XVI. 30 ÷ 5 = 6

Frequently asked questions (FAQs) on Division Sharing and Grouping:

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Related Division Pages:

• Division
• Division Facts
• Long Division
• Division Word Problems
• Division Worksheets
• Multiplication and Division
• Division by 1-Digit Numbers

3rd Grade Math Lessons

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